Device for fixing the thread ends on yarn coils



Jan. 14, 1964 H. RAASCH ETAL 3,117,733

DEVICE FOR FIXING THE THREAD ENDS ON YARN COILS Filed May 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 14, 1964 H. RAASCH ETAL DEVICE FOR FIXING THE THREAD ENDS ON YARN COILS Filed May 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mxx lNl/fNl'ORS Jan. 14, 1964 H. RAASCH ETAL 3,117,738

DEVICE FOR FIXING THE THREAD ENDS ON YARN COILS Filed May 11, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVt'NiOPS *4 um; my

United States Patent 3,117,738 DEVICE FGR FlXING Tl-E, THREAD ENDS 0N YARN CGILS Hans Raasch, Rheyd-fldenlrirchen, and Willi Kiipper, Rickelrath, Kreis Erlrelenz, Germany, assignors to Walter Reiners, Gladbach, Germany Filed May 11, 1951, Ser. No. 109,314 Claims priority, application Germany May 21, 1960 11 Claims. (Cl. 24218) Our invention relates to methods and means for preventing the thread end on yarn coils from becoming inadvertently loose by unwinding or gliding off the yarn body.

When the yarn is very flaccid or of the type having many fine fibers sticking out of the yarn, it is often sufiicient to press the thread end lightly against the wound body of yarn, for example by brushing. During transportation in the textile manufacturing plant, however, such yarn coils are subjected to vibration which may cause loosening of the thread end, particularly when the yarn is very smooth, such as rayon yarn, or when the yarn is relatively stiff and brittle such as linen yarn. Past attempts at fixing the thread ends, particularly by clamping or gluing, have failed to be satisfactory for many purposes. It has therefore been proposed to terminate the production of a yarn coil, such as a cop or shuttle bobbin, by first severing the thread from the yarn supply so that the thread end of the coil is loose, and to thereafter pull the loose thread end beneath one of the turns of the wound body of yarn thus fastening the end to that body. The loose thread end, however, is difiicult to seize so that additional thread-end gripping and holding devices are required.

It is therefore an object of our invention to devise a reliable yet simple method and device for fixing the thread ends on wound bodies of yarn, which does away with the deficiencies of the methods described in the foregoing.

To tltc's end, we fix the yarn end of a textile coil, such as a spinning cop or shuttle bobbin, by first forming a loop in the thread still passing from the yarn supply to the coil previously wound, then tucking the loop beneath the ultimate or penultimate turn of the coil, then pulling and thereby tensioning the thread, and thereafter severing it from the yarn supply. Contrary to prior methods, therefore, the thread end is severed from the yarn supply only after the thread end of the coil is fixed by tucking it in form of a loop beneath a winding turn of the coil.

For performing this method, and according to a further feature of our invention, we provide a loop-taker member at a location in front of the tip of the coil to be completed. The loop taker may consist of an angular body of round cross section which has one of its legs extended substantially in a plane parallel to the coil axis, whereas the other leg extends in an angular, preferably perpendicular direction, relative to the coil axis, the latter leg being displaceable in said direction into the travel range of the yarn supplied to the coil and being also rotatable about its displacement axis.

The cross-sectional shape of the respective legs must be such that the thread can glide along the legs even when the thread is slightly tensioned. For that reason, the two legs of the angular loop taker should not have sharp edges but are preferably given a circular cross section. In order to let the thread more readily glide from the loop taker onto the coil, it is helpful to give at least the one leg that is parallel to the coil axis, a conical shape tapering toward the coil. This leg may also be provided with a recess, for example a center bore, for engaging the tip of the coil when the loop is being stripped off the loop taker and shoved onto the coil tip.

According to another feature of our invention we provide a stripper for passing the loop from the loop taker onto the coil. This stripper may also serve for pulling and tensioning the thread in order to firmly pull the penultimate winding turn of the coil onto the loop after the loop has been tucked beneath this turn. It is further preferable to provide the stripper with an edge or other severing means which separates the thread end from the yarn supply after the thread has thus been pulled taut.

Care should be taken to make certain that, during formation of the loop by the loop taker, the thread is not unwound from the coil to be completed. For this purpose, according to another feature of our invention, the coil to be completed by fixing of its thread end is arrested during loop-taking operation so that it cannot rotate. More specifically, we provide a stopping member, such as a clamp, brush or the like, which not only stops rotary motion of the coil but also prevents any turns from gliding oil the body of yarn previously wound. Furthermore, a yarn clamp may be provided which securely holds the thread end during the severing operation.

The invention will be further described with reference to the drawings showing, by way of example, an embodiment of a device for attaching the thread end of a cop or shuttle bobbin.

FIGS. 1 through 8 of the device in eight tively.

FIG. 9 shows the device in conjunction with appertaining control mechanism; and

FIG. 10 is a lateral schematic view of the device according to FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a stripper member, and FIG. 12 is a top view of a yarn clamp, both forming part of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 10.

The illustrated yarn coils, hereinafter briefly called cops, are provided with a yarn reserve 3 on the tip of the coil core. Such yarn reserves or tip bunches at the tip of spinning cops or shuttle bobbins serve to facilitate seizing and removing the starting end of the coil in the yarn-package winding machine, weaving loom or oLher machinery where the coil is to be used subsequently. Although the invention is applicable for any type of textile yarn coils, it is particularly advantageous for fix ng the thread end on such a yarn reserve at the tip or foot of the core.

Each of FIGS. 1 to 8 shows the cop 1 with its tip bunch 3, a loop taker ill, a yarn clamp 4 and a stripper 21. The device is further provided with a holding member 33, for example in the form of a brush, which prevents any tip-bunch windings from unraveling or gliding off.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cop is shown in pleted condition. That is, the body of yarn has been previously wound onto the tubular core of the cop by passing the yarn F from a supply coil or package (S in FlG. 9) onto the core while the latter is kept in revolution about its axis, and thereafter winding a few additional turns onto the core tip to form the bunch 3. This preceding winding operation may be performed in a cop winding machine such as those generally known from Patent 2,657,867 and available in the trade under the trademark Autocopser from American Schlafhorst Company, Charlotte, NC. Upon completion of the winding operation, the cop rotation is stopped and the brush 33 (FIG. 1) is placed against the tip bunch to prevent unravelling, but the thread F coming from the supply package is not yet severed but is held clamped by the clamp 4. Thus a relatively dennite path is established for thread F from the clamp d to the tip bunch 3.

illustrate the essential components different operating stages respecnearly com- In FIG. 1, the loop taker 11, consisting of a rod or tube of circular cross section, has already performed a travel motion from its normal position of rest in the upward direction of the arrow a perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the cop. The loop taker 11 has an angular shape with a short horizontal leg 11a at the top. During the just-mentioned upward travel, the horizontal leg 11a enters into the path of the thread F which, either touches the front end of the leg 11a, as shown in FIG. 1, or forms a slight curve around the front portion of leg 11a. The other leg 11b, extending perpendicular to the cop axis, can now rotate about its longitudinal axis, with leg 11a participating in the rotational movement.

FIG. 2 shows the position of the loop taker 11 after it has completed a full rotation of 360 in accordance with the arrow b. The thread F is now located in front of leg 11a and is in contact therewith.

In FIG. 3 the loop taker has performed a further rotation of 90 in the sense of the arrow c. Now the thread F partially surrounds the leg 11a, resting against the left-hand side of the leg. The length of thread necessary for forming the partial loop around the leg 11a has been pulled off the tip bunch 3. However, the holder member 33 prevents more than the necessary turns from gliding off the bunch.

After further rotation of 90, corresponding to the arrow 01, the loop taker reaches the position shown in FIG. 4. Now the thread surrounds partially the leg 11a and partially the leg 11b.

In FIG. the loop taker has turned an additional angle of 180 according to the arrow e, so that, since the position shown in FIG. 2, a full rotation of 360 is completed. The thread F now passes from one side of the leg 11a to the opposite side, then upon the leg 11a to the leg 11b, partially surrounds the leg 11b, and then reaches the tip bunch 3. The length of thread necessary for the operations according to FIGS. 4 and 5 are pulled oif the bunch 3, like in the operational steps described above with reference to FIG. 3.

After two complete rotations of the loop taker 11, each time by 360, the loop taker is again shifted downwardly according to the arrow 1 in FIG. 6. At the end of this vertical motion, the leg 11a is located in coaxial relation to the take-up spool 1. As mentioned above, during the entire loop formation, the thread F was held fast in the clamp 4. During the downward motion according to the arrow the thread is somewhat tightened about the loop taker to provide for the necessary length of yarn from the closed yarn clamp 4 to the leg 11a. As a result, the loop glides along the loop taker toward the front, and toward the tip of the cop, as is illustrated in FIG. 6. Now, the cop 1 is moved axially according to arrow g in FIG. 7 toward the leg 11a so that the tip of the cop enters into the bore 110 of the leg 11a. The stripper 21, located above the loop taker since the operating stage of FIG. 6 was reached, now moves in FIG. 7 toward the right as indicated by the arrow g. This causes the stripper to push the loop off the leg 11a. The yarn end portion that extends from the loop taker to the clamp 4 and subsequently constitutes the thread end of the tip bunch, is pushed off first, ahead of the loop formed on the loop taker. As a result, the loop is shoved over the thread end. During further motion of the stripper 21 toward the right, the thread end F is pulled and tensioned so that the loop is pulled tight. When now the stripper 21 continues its travel in the same direction, the thread end F is tensioned beyond its limit of strength and is torn apart between the tip bunch 3 and the clamp 4 as shown in FIG. 8. In order to predetermine the severing point, it is of advantage to provide the stripper 21 with a cutting edge or blade as shown at 211 in FIG. 11. An embodiment of a drive and control mechanism for performing the above-described operations of the loop taker, stripper and yarn clamp will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The stage of operation, shown in FIG. 9, corresponds to that of FIG. 2, i.e. the loop taker 11 has already performed its upward motion as well as a rotation by 360. The cop 1 is firmly held in a clamping device 2. Located on the tip of the cop 1 is the tip bunch 3 which constitutes a yarn reserve from which the thread F extends through the yarn clamp 4 toward the yarn supply coil or package shown schematically at S in FIG. 10. It will be understood that the yarn from this package was previously used for winding a body of yarn onto the core of the cop 1. The particular Winding machine used for winding the cop and its tip hunch is not part of the invention proper, various such machines are known and available on the textile machinery market. The particular winding machine, partly shown in FIG. 10, corresponds to the one illustrated and described in US. Patent 2,657,867 (housing H and rotary yarn guide G in FIG. 10 of this present disclosure are identical with housing 1 and yarn guide 8 in FIG. 4 of the patent), such machines being available under the trade name Autocopser from American Schlafhorst Company, Charlotte, N.C.; and a detailed description of these machines, including the yarn-reserve (tip-bunch) forming components, is contained in a publication Automatic Pirn Winder, part C, Operational Description of the Automatic Pirn Winder Model ASE, available in the Patent-Ofiice Library.

It should be understood, however, that while reference will be made to the particular cop winding machine mentioned above, the yarn-end fixing method and device of our invention is not limited thereto but is analogously applicable with other yarn-coil winding machines.

The above-described movements of the loop-taker 11, take-up coil (cop) 1, stripper 21 and clamp 4 are controlled by a set of cams 6, 7 and 8 firmly mounted on a common cam shaft which is driven from an electric motor 5 as indicated schematically by a broken line at 5a (FIGS. 9, 10). During operation, the cams rotate clockwise as indicated by an arrow h (FIG. 9). The motor 5 also drives a bevel gear 9 through a transmission indicated by a dot and dash line 5b. When the loop-former 11 is in the illustrated lifted condition, gear 9 meshes with a bevel gear 10 firmly and coaxially joined with the loop-taker 11. The taker 11 is vertically displaceable in bearings 111 and 112 and is biased by a helical spring 34 in the downward direction. The transmission ratio between the cam shaft 5a and the loop taker 11 is such that the loop taker 11 will rotate twice for each full rotation of the cam set. Consequently, the transmission ratio of gears 9, 10 is to be chosen accordingly or a suitable speed-change gearing (not shown) must be included in transmission 5b. Further details of the device shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 will become apparent from the following description of the operation.

At the end of the winding operation, i.e. when the cop 1 is completely filled with yarn coming from the supply coil S, the cop is in the winding position illustrated in FIG. 10 by a broken line at 1'. After an additional amount of yarn is wound onto the tip of the core to form the bunch 3, the coil is released from its holder and drops onto a curved teeter member 2 6 pivotally mounted at 26:: to the machine housing H, the teeter turns counterclockwise under the weight of the filled cop. The cop then drops from the teeter 26 into the clamping device 2. which at this stage is sufficiently open to receive the cop but to stop it from droping through. The abovve-mentioned turning motion of teeter 26 closes two electric contacts 27 and 28 in the control circuit of the drive motor 5. The shaft 5a carries a cam 29 (FIG. 10) in addition to the cams 6, 7 and 8 (FIG. 9) described above. Cam 29 cooperates with a follower lever 30 pivotally mounted at 30a and spring-biased into engagement with the cam. At commencing rotation of shaft 5a, cam 29 shifts the follower 3t} clockwise about its pivot 30a and thereby closes two electnic contacts 31 and 32 connected parallel to contacts 23' and 27 so that the motor 5 remains energized after the contacts 27 and 28 are again opened. The motor 5 will then continue running until the follower 31} drops back into the recess of cam 29, thus opening the contacts 3.1, 32 and thereby stopping the motor 5 after the cams have completed one full rotation.

Since the cams 6, 7, 8 and the bevel gear 9 rotate together with the shaft 5a driven from the motor 5, the follower roller 19 of lever '19 enters into the deepest cam recess of the cam 8 and the lever 19 turns clockwise about its pivot 19a as soon as the motor 5 commences running. The lever '19 then shifts a connecting rod '18 to turn a bell-crank lever 17 about its pivot 17a. Lever l7, acting through a connecting link 16, tightens the clamping device 2 for the cop 1 in opposition to the force of a spring 35. Link 16 is connected to an arm 2a on which a clamping jaw of the clamping device 2 is mounted and which is pivoted at 20. An extension 2% of the arm 2a serves to control the yarn clamp 4. This clamp comprises two parallel plates 401a and 40 112 (FIGS. 9, 10, 12) between which a clamping member 492 is movable about a pivot pin 493. A leaf spring 464 presses the clamp components against each other. The extension 20 of arm 2:: :is linked to an arm 402:: of member 492. As soon as the arm 2a with the cop-clamping jaw moves toward the left (FIG. and clamps the cop, the extension 2% moves the yarn-clamp member 402 counterclockwise (FIG. 12) to the illustrated position. The thread F, located in a recess 405 is then clamped fast between the plates ttila and 4011). Thus the cop clamp 2 and the yarn clamp 4 close substantially simultaneously. As mentioned, FIG. 12 shows the yarn clamp 4 closed. When, upon completion or" the loop by the loop taker, the arm 2a and its extension move back to the right (FIG. 10), the cla. lp member 402 is moved to open position.

During further rotation of cam 8, the cam roller 14 of a follower 14, pivoted at 1412, runs onto the lobe of the earn 7 and turns clockwise. The follower 14, acting through a linking rod 13, then turns a bell-crank lever 12. in the same sense. An abutment member 12a of lever 12. then lifts the loop taker 11 to the illustrated position (FIG. 9) where the bevel gear 10 is in mesh with gear 9 so that the loop taker 1 1 commences rotating about its vertical axis. Upon completion of two full rotations, each by 360, the follower roller 14' again passes into the recessed portion of cam 7, the loop taker 11 moves downward, and the bevel gear 10 is disengaged from gear 9 so that the rotation of the loop taker '11 ceases. It is desirable to provide a braking or arresting device to make certain that the leg 11:: of the loop taker 11 remains directed toward the tip of the cop 1 corresponding to FIG. 6. For this purpose the illustrated embodiment comprises an annular stop member 113 fixed to the bearing 111 and provided with a downwardly tapering V-notch sufficiently wide to catch a cross pin 114 of the loop taker 11 when the latter moves downward. The notch then arrests the loop taker in the proper position with leg 11a coaxially aligned with the cop.

Simultaneously with the downward motion of the loop taker 11, an arm 14a of the follower 14 moves a tappet 15 toward the left assisted by a spring 15a. The tappet then pushes the cop 1 toward the left so that the tip of the cop enters into the bore itle of the loop taker leg 11:: (FIG. 8). When this stage is reached, the cam 6 (FIG. 9) has rotated to such an extent that the cam roller 24 of the appertaining foL ower 24', pivoted at 24a, reaches the lowermost point of the recess in cam 6, due to the action of a pull spring 37. The resulting clockwise rotation of the follower 24 causes a lever 22, pivoted at 22a, to be turned clockwise by a connecting link 23. The stripper 21 is thereby moved toward the right. As explained with reference to FlG. 7, the stripper now shoves the previously formed loop oil the loop taker '11, tightens the loop, and then severs the thread F (FIG. 8).

Now the cam roller 19' of follower 19 passes upon the periphery of the highest lobe 8a on cam 3. The follower 19 transmits its clockwise rotation through link 18, lever 17 and link '16 to the cop clamping device 2. The clamping device 2 therefore is opened to a much greater extent than prior to receiving and clamping of the cop. The opening motion is suflioiently large to permit the cop 1 to drop out of the clamping device 2. The cop is then received in a suitable manner in a collecting box or on a conveyor. The just-mentioned opening motion of clamp 2 is accompanied by opening of the yarn clamp 4. When new the cams have rotated to such an extent that roller 24' of follower 24 again glides into recess 6a of cam 6, the set of cams 6, 7, 8 and 29 has completed a single full rotation of 360 and the cam 29 then opens the contacts 31, 32 and stops the drive motor 5.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, upon a study of this disclosure, that our invention affords of various modifications with respmt to individual components and their arrangement, and hence can be given embodiments other than panticularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from the essential features of our invention and within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

We claim:

1. A device for fixing the thread end to the yarn body of a yarn coil upon winding said coil from a yarn supply onto a core, comprising holder means for holding the coil so as to define a given coil am's, said holder leaving the last-wound end of the .coil exposed when in operation, a clamp radially spaced from said holder means and engageable with the thread of yarn for holding a length of thread extending away from the coil end toward the clamp, said holder means and said clamp defining a given path for said thread when in operation, a loop taker located axially in front of said holder means at the side of said coil end, said loop taker being rotatably mounted and movable into said path for engaging the thread between said end and said clamp, control means connected with said loop taker for moving it into said path and rotating it to form a loop in the thread, a stripper engageable with the loop on said loop taker and displaceable toward the coil for shoving the loop from said loop taker onto the coil end, said control means being also connected with said stripper for actuating it subsequent to loop formation.

2. In a device according to claim 1, said stripper having a path of displacement suflicient in length for tightening the loop prior to severing of the thread from the supply.

3. In a device according to claim 1, said loop taker comprising an angular member of round cross section having two legs extending at a substantially right angle to each other, one of said legs being substantially perpendicular to said coil axis, said other leg extending in a plant substantially parallel to said axis, said one leg being displaceable in its axial direction for movement of the other loop-taker arm into and out of said thread path and being also rotatable for loop formation, whereby said other leg rotates in said plane, said other leg being coaxially aligned and in engagement with the coil end during stripper displacement.

4. In a device according to claim 3, said other leg of said loop taker having a cross section tapering in the direction from said one leg toward the free end of said other leg.

5. In a device according to claim 3, said other leg of said loop taker having in its free end a center recess engageable by the coil end.

6. In a device according to claim 1, said stripper comprising a cutting means engageable with the thread for severing it from the supply after said stripper has tightened the loop.

7. A device according to claim 1, comprising a stop member mounted on said holder means and engageable with the last-wound turns of the coil to prevent unravelling thereof during operation of said loop taker and stripper.

8. A device for fixing the thread end to the yarn body of a yarn coil upon winding said coil from a yarn supply onto a core, comprising holder means for holding the coil so as to define a given coil axis, said holder leaving the last-wound end of the coil exposed When in operation, a clamp spaced from said holder means and engageable with the thread of yarn for holding a length of thread extending away from the coil and toward the clamp, said holder means and said clamp defining a given path for said thread when in operation, a loop taker located axially in front of said holder means at the side of said coil end, said loop taker being movable into said path for engaging the thread and being rotatable to form a loop in said thread, and said loop taker being movable to coaxial engagement with said coil end to permit shoving said loop onto said coil end, a pusher having a member displaceable on said coil axis for pushing the coil on said holder into engagement with said loop taker, a stripper engageable with the loop on said loop taker and displaceable toward the coil for shoving the loop from said loop taker onto the coil end, said stripper having a path of displacement sufliciently long for tightening the loop prior to severing of the thread from the supply, and a control mechanism having sequencing means connected with said holder means and clamp, loop taker, pusher and stripper for operating them in sequence and thereafter opening said holder and clamp.

9; A device for fixing the thread end to the yarn body of a yarn coil upon winding said coil from a yarn supply onto a core, comprising holder means for holding the coil so as to define a given coil axis, said holder leaving the last wound end of the coil exposed when in operation, a clamp spaced from said holder means and engageable with the thread of yarn for holding a length of thread extending from the coil end to the clamp, said holder means and said clamp defining a given path for said thread when in operation, a loop taker located axially in front of said holder means at the side of said coil end, said loop taker comprising an angular member of round cross section having two legs extending at a substantially rig-ht angle to each other, one of said legs being substantially perpendicular to said coil axis, said other leg extending in a plane substantially parallel to said axis, said one leg being displaceable in its axial direction for movement of the other loop-taker arm into and out of said thread path and being also rotatable, whereby said other leg rotates in said plane for loop formation, means engageable with said loop taker for aligning said other arm with said coil end when said loop taker is in position of rest to then permit a formed loop to be shoved from said loop taker onto said coil end, a stripper engageable with the loop on said loop taker and displaceable toward the coil for shoving the loop from said loop taker onto the coil end, said strip-per having a path of displacement suificient in length for tightening the loop prior to severing of the thread from the supply, and a control mechanism having sequencing means connected with said holder means and clamp, loop taker and stripper for operating them in sequence and thereafter opening said holder and clamp.

10. In a device according to claim 9, said yarn clamp and said coil holder being interlinked and jointly connected with said sequencing means to close and open together at the beginning and end respectively of the threadend fixing operations of the device.

ll. A device according to claim 9, comprising a first gear coaxially joined with said one leg of said loop taker, said control means having a gear engageable with said first gear for two complete rotations when said one leg is displaced, whereby said loop taker is rotated twice by said gears when said other arm is located in said thread path.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,491,702 Arnold Dec. 20, 1949 

1. A DEVICE FOR FIXING THE THREAD END TO THE YARN BODY OF A YARN COIL UPON WINDING SAID COIL FROM A YARN SUPPLY ONTO A CORE, COMPRISING HOLDER MEANS FOR HOLDING THE COIL SO AS TO DEFINE A GIVEN COIL AXIS, SAID HOLDER LEAVING THE LAST-WOUND END OF THE COIL EXPOSED WHEN IN OPERATION, A CLAMP RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID HOLDER MEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE THREAD OF YARN FOR HOLDING A LENGTH OF THREAD EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE COIL END TOWARD THE CLAMP, SAID HOLDER MEANS AND SAID CLAMP DEFINING A GIVEN PATH FOR SAID THREAD WHEN IN OPERATION, A LOOP TAKER LOCATED AXIALLY IN FRONT OF SAID HOLDER MEANS AT THE SIDE OF SAID COIL END, SAID LOOP TAKER BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED AND MOVABLE INTO SAID PATH FOR ENGAGING THE THREAD BETWEEN SAID END AND SAID CLAMP, CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID LOOP TAKER FOR MOVING IT INTO SAID PATH AND ROTATING IT TO FORM A LOOP IN THE THREAD, A STRIPPER ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOOP ON SAID LOOP TAKER AND DISPLACEABLE TOWARD THE COIL FOR SHOVING THE LOOP FROM SAID LOOP TAKER ONTO THE COIL END, SAID CONTROL MEANS BEING ALSO CONNECTED WITH SAID STRIPPER FOR ACTUATING IT SUBSEQUENT TO LOOP FORMATION. 